Neil Hudson

A MILL in Ossett was in danger of collapse this morning following a fire which began last night.

The fire was reported at about 10.40pm yesterday at a jeans factory on Queen Street. Crews from Ossett were first on the scene and immediately asked for support. Within about half an hour there were 50 firefighters from six stations fighting the three-storey blaze.

The mill fire on Queen's Street, Ossett. Picture: Ian Day

This morning, crews were still at the scene and roads through Ossett have been closed by police, from the top of Bank Street to Ossett Green.

Ossett’s watch commander Paul Graham, who was first on the scene, said: “The fire was over three storeys and a basement, it was an old mill with wooden floorboards. It was too dangerous to commit firefighters to the inside of the building so we fought it from outside.

“The mill is practically destroyed and is today in danger of collapse.”

A spokeswoman for West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said the mill was occupied by a clothing company called Fudge Jeans.